Fire control apparatus



June 25, 1946. WQQDWQRTH 2,462,704

FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 25, 1946. WQQDWORTH 2,402,704

FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 N Patented June 25, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,402,704 I FIRE CONTROL APPARATUS Fred A. Woodworth, Minneapolis, Application March 24, 1943, Serial No. 480,300

1 v This invention relates to fire control apparatus. It is an object of my invention to provide improved means for storing fire extinguishing fluids and more particularly highly volatile fluids and for releasing such fluids at predetermined temperatures caused by fires.

More specifically it is an object to provide a frangible container for extinguishing fluidand means operable at pre-determined temperatures for breaking the container and releasing the fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for insulating the container against heat so that highly volatile extinguisher fluids will not produce leaks in the container or cause it to burst prematurely.

. Still another object of the invention is to provide means for catching the fluid from the broken container and conveying it to any desired point remote from the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide.

a frangible container and means for breaking the same is combination with an alarm device actuated by the container breaking means.

Another object of the invention is to. provide spring actuated container breaking means wherein the breaking means is held in inoperative position by a device which includes a fusible element which can be remotely positioned from the container and breaking means plus means for conveying the fluid from the container to the vicinity of the fusible element.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the views, and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of my invention showing the container support and breaking means;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with fluid conducting conduits, a cable having thermal element connections therein and a cable connection to a remotely positioned alarm device; I

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an alarm device used in conjunction with the extinguisher unit;

Fig. 5 is a section'on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of extinguisher unit with portions broken away and in section; and

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

2 Claims. (01. 169-2) In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a frame made up of side members 8 and 9, a plurality of substantially rectangular frame members l0 which are connected to the side members 8 and 9, and a right-hand end member I I which connects the right ends of the side members 8 and 9. Suitable longitudinal reinforcing members such as the strap I 2 may also be provided to connect the rectangular members ID for added strength. Connected to the side members 8 and 9 are mounting brackets I3 which permit the framework to be supported from the ceiling in a room.

Mounted in the cage-like framework just described is a casing M which may be formed of sheet metal in the shape of a can. As viewed in Fig. 2, the left-hand end of the casing is open and the right-hand end is provided with an end disc l5 having a central opening l6 therein. The casing I4 is secured at its lower side portion by means of bolts I! to the end frame members In and one of the longitudinal braces l2. The lower portion of the casing end I5 is provided with a drain opening l8.

The interior of the casing I4 is lined with a suitable insulating material I 9 about its circular side wall and across the opening IS. The insulating material is preferably an easily breakable fibrous material such as asbestos sheeting. The left-hand end of the container I4 is provided with a removable cap or cover 20 which is also lined with an insulating material and at its inner central portion the insulation is built up as at 2| to provide a cushioning pad. A movable pin 22 extends between a pair of spaced brackets 8' and 9 on the rear of the outer frame to releasably lock the cover 20 on the end of the can I4.

Positioned Within the heat insulating casing 14 is a frangible container 23 in the form of a glass jug which is adapted to hold fire extinguisher fluid such as carbon tetrachloride. However, any suitable and preferably volatile extinguishing fluid can be used. Mounted on the frame end member II is a bracket 24 which is spaced outwardly from said end member I I intermediate its ends and forms with said end member a bearing unit for slidably supporting a plunger 25. The left-hand end of the plunger 25 is provided With a hardened steel point 26 and immediately behind this is a generally conical head 21. A spring 28 on the plunger 25 is interposed between the rear of the head 21 and the frame end member II, and tends normally to urge the plunger toward the frangible container 23.

The right-hand end of the plunger 25 is provided with a stop flange 3| to limit its movement toward the left and said end of said plunger hand end of the pan 34. A stopper .38 normally lies in the end of the conduit 3'! to prevent dirt from entering the conduit when the extinguisher is not in use. The stopper 38 is connected to a loop or link 39 which is freely slidable 'on a rod 45 which extends inwardly from the right-hand end of the pan above the bottom thereof. The stopper 33 is also connected by a wire' or cord 4| to the plunger head 21 so that when the plunger is released and forced to the left by the spring 28 to break the jar 23 andrelease extinguisher fluid therefrom the wire 4! will pull the stopper 38 out of the end of the conduit 37. Thereupon fluid will flow from the broken container 23 and through the aperture I 3 and easing Hi to the collector pan 34 and thence to the conduit 3'! where it flows toany predetermined or desired point.

An electrical switch 42 is mounted on a block of insulating material 43 which is secured to the frame side member 9.. The switch is provided with binding posts 44 and a reciprocating contact plunger 45. not shown since it may be of any conventional type suchas an automobile caution light switch with asreciprocating contact plunger. A reciproeating rod 45 is slidably mounted on a bracket 41 which is also secured to the frame side'member 9. The rod 46 has a block of insulatingmaterial 43 on its end and a spring v43 is interposed between the insulating block 48 and a side of the bracket 41. The right-hand end of the rod 46 has connected thereto a cable or wire 50 which extends through the aperture 32 in the'righthand end of the plunger 25 and has its opposite end anchored to an eye bolt 5| on the frame end member H. released and urged to the left by the spring 28 the rod 46 will move to the left and engage the switch plunger 45to close the switch. This switch can be connected to any suitable electrically operated alarm device. In the diagrammatic view, Fig. 3, the cable 33 which is connected to the right-hand end of the plunger 25 may extend to any suitable point and i the diagram" it is shown to extend through a wall 52 and have its end anchored in a flue or air duct 53. At spaced points along the cable, fusible elements 54 may be provided so that excessive heat will melt the fusible elements thus breaking the cable connection in the event of fire and releasin the plunger 25 so that it will enter the casing l4 through its end Opening I 6 and break the frangible container 23 to release the extinguisher fluid. The insulating material covering the'opening IS in the casing I4 is sufliciently weak to be easily broken by the plunger point 26 and head 21.

The details of the switch are Thus when the main plunger 25 is" In the flue or air duct 53 I provide a fusible link 55 which is a link in the cable 33. The branch of the conduit 31 leads to the collector pan 34 so that in the event of a fire in the air duct 53 the link 55 Will melt releasing the plunger 25 thereby breaking the container 23 and permitting extinguisher fluid to flow from the broken container 23 through said conduit 31 into the interior of the air duct 53. From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided automatic fire control means which includes an extinguisher containing a fluid that is released by the melting of a fusible element which restrains a spring actuated device provided to fracture the container of the fluid. At the same time means is provided for closing alarm circuits and for actuating mechanical alarms at points remote from the extinguisher itself. The alarm actuation is dependent upon and set off. by the mechanism which breaks the container for the fire extinguishing fluid. Means isprovidedfor releasing fluid and conducting it into the interior of a'flue or air duct.

One important advantage of the apparatus is 7 that it can be refilled after use by merely securing a glass or other breakable container of a size to approximately fit the interior of the metal casing and filling the container with a liquid such as carbon tetrachloride which is easily obtainable. It is unnecessary to purchase specially prepared refill containers. All that is required is that the container be tightly sealed so thatv the carbon tetrachloride will not leak out. As a precaution against leakage or bursting of the glass container due to tendency of the liquid to expand and volatilize the container casing is heat insulated.

In order to prevent soot and dirt from entering the discharge end of the conduit 56 where 40 it is positioned in the interior of a flue or air duct it is preferred that the end of said conduit be closed byan easily melting substance such as wax which will melt and drop off at excessive temperatures.

' While I have described the apparatus in connection with a building structure Where it is best adapted for. use, it could, of course, be used without the pan and distributor conduits in vehicles such as large vans.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.v

What is claimed is:

1. Fire control apparatus comprising, a container for a fire extinguishing fluid, temperature controlled means movable to release fluid from said container, a pan beneath said container for collecting the released fluid, and a. conduit connected to said pan for conveying-the fluid to a remote point,

2. The structure in claim 1, and conduit closure means normally closing the inlet of said conduit and connected to said fluid release means, said conduit closing means being movable with said release means to open said conduit and permit the flow of fluid thereinto.

FRED A. WOODWORTH. 

